CDC focuses on preventing flu after Brenda Fitzgerald resignation

Maxine Mendoza |Tuesday, February 06, 2018

CDC focuses on preventing flu after Brenda Fitzgerald resignation

Rodriguez is working on a letter to send home to all parents, reminding them that flu season is in full swing and advising them about the signs and symptoms, when they should keep their children home, and how to prevent the flu.

This year's dominant strain is H-3-N-2. Other hospitals in counties across California are experiencing elevated numbers of cases as well.

"Public health officials continue to urge the public to get vaccinated, even though this year's vaccine is less effective than in previous years".

This 2017-2018 season, the strain influenza A (H3N2) has been detected worldwide and has been most frequently identified.

But what happens after you've already gotten over the flu? "The flu vaccine that you get has that strain, you know, protection in it, but not as much as it does for the H1N1, the common influenza A".

Dr. Frank Welch, Louisiana's immunization director, said the outbreak is the worst he's seen in 20 years on the job. Pharmacies are also running out of flu medicines.

Nineteen flu deaths have been reported in London and Middlesex County since September 1, the health unit reported.

"Because of the way children interact and play they are clearly at higher risk to get the flu", said Margaret C. Fisher, M.D., chair, Department of Pediatrics at Monmouth Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. In the past, the flu has started and peaked in January; however, the current flu virus began all the way back in November - the part of the year that is popular with family and friend gatherings. The flu vaccine isn't as effective against this strain as it is for the others.

The government's report out Friday showed the flu season continued to intensify last week.

As influenza virus activity increases and is likely to continue circulating for upcoming weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend influenza vaccinations for all persons 6 months of age and older.

It is not too late to get vaccinated for influenza. The flu is highly contagious and could spread throughout the workplace.

That also helps prevent the spread of the virus because some people infected with the Flu can go weeks without showing symptoms, meaning they can spread the virus before they even know they have it.

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